Safety catch



Nov. 6, 1934. WELLS 1,980,124

SAFETY CATCH Filed Feb. 16, 1934 INVENTOR fi m t ma hWe/lls 5 wwzg Patented Nov. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE 16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in clasps or catches for pins, bars, rods, and the like, and to an improved process for making the same.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, efficient and inexpensive catch or retaining device that will automatically lock the pin or bar in place when it is pushed into the v catch, together with means for centering the pin 1 or bar in the catch and means for releasing the same.

Another object is to provide a novel double lock arrangement for devices of this nature and process of making the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive process of making and assembling the parts.

Another object is to provide an improved guard for the end of the pin or bar.

Another object of the invention is to provide means and methods of making such a catch from pressed or stamped material that may be assembled and held together by bending or pressing.

Other objects and advantages of the invention '-will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is apparent that many changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement of parts, and steps of the process without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact methods and features described, as the preferred forms only have been shown and described by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. I is a perspective view of a breast pin embodying the invention, and with the parts of the catch opened out to show their construction;

Fig. II is an end view partly in section, showing the entrant portion of the pin;

Fig. III is a view similar to Fig. II, showing the pin pushed down to the center of the catch and showing the emergency lock end moved over to locked position;

Fig. IV is a view similar to Fig. II, showing pin in locked position in the catch;

Fig. V is a longitudinal cross section through the catch on line V-V of Fig. IV, and showing the pin in position therein;

Fig. VI is a front elevation of a breast pin embodying the invention;

Fig. VII is a perspective view of a breast pin showing a modified form of catch;

the

Fig. VIII is a front elevation of Fig. VII showing the modified catch in cross'section; and

Fig. IX is a perspective top view of Fig. VIII.

Referring to the drawing, wherein likereference characters indicate like parts throughout, 1'

have illustrated my invention in Fig. I as applied to an ordinary breast pin or safety pin, in which 1 is the plate of the pin and 2 is the hinge member soldered or otherwise secured to the plate 1.

The pin member 3 is pivoted to the hinge member 2 by the hinge pin or rivet 4 in the usual manner and is provided with the usual pointed end 5.

These parts are usual prior art constructions.

The housing for the retaining catch for the pin 3 is preferably made of a stamping 6 of ductile,

bendable material having the footportion 7 providing means by which it may be soldered or' otherwise fastened to the plate 1. The ears 8 have entrant slots 9 therein and are provided with guide or track portions 10 which fit within the recessed sides of a keeper member 12 and provide pivot supports for said member. When the plates 8 are in position of use, they form a peripheral slot or groove 11 in which the track flange 13 of the keeper member 12 is mounted. The track flange 13 bears on the track portion 10 of the housing and is provided with a handle por-.

tion 19 projecting out of the peripheral slot or groove 11. The member 12 has the portion 14 formed with a central opening therein to receive the pin 3, which portion 14 is cut away to form a cam edge face 15 extending from the central opening for engaging the pin-as it is pushed into the slot 9. The keeper member 12 is shown in Figs. I, II, III, and IV, and has the entrant opening 16, the cam face 15, the internal cam surface 17, and emergency lock end 20.

The keeper member 12 is placed between the two sides 8 of the flange 13 engaging the track portions 10 and with the handle 19 extending outwardly of the peripheral slot or groove 11. This assembling operation is performed by pressing the two sides 8 of the housing into closed relation with the keeper member 12 so that the track portions 10 are fitted and held 1 in the recessed sides of said keeper member with the track flange 13 pivotally related with said track portions. The

part '7 is then soldered or otherwise secured to the being of resilient, springy material, when deflectin Fig. II. This places the entrant portion 16 and the cam face 15 of the keeper member 12 in line with the slotted openings 9 in the housing. The pin 3 is then entered into the openings 9 and the entrant portion 16 of the cam opening in the keeper member 12. As the pin is pressed internally towards the center of the member 12, it engages the cam face or shoulder 15, and continued movement thereof in this direction causes the keeper member 12 to rotate and move the emergency lock portion 20 of said keeper member across the slotted openings 9. This automatically forms a shunt for preventing the retracting of the pin, and thereby locks the said pin in the keeper member, as shown in Fig. III.

The handle of the keeper member 12 is then pushed around until it reaches the position shown in Fig. IV. During this movement the cam surface 17 functions to move the pin 3 to the center of the keeper member 12 wherein it is securely locked in the slots 9 and in said keeper member 12 by the solid wall portion 21 of the portion 14. To release the pin, the handle is turned back to the position shown in Fig. II, and the pin is pushed out of the slots or openings and 16.

It is apparent that this construction provides a double lock arrangement, one of which is the automatically operating temporary emergency lock portion 20, and the other the solid wall 21 of the portion 14. The temporary emergency lock portion 20 automatically locks and holds the pin 3 in the keeper member so that the projecting handle 19 can be rotated to move the permanent lock wall 21 into locked relation with the pin. Attention is directed to the fact that the tem porary lock portion 20 is cupped substantially to the contour shape of the pin and is provided with a projecting end portion 22 which engages the contour of the pin and functions to hold the temporary lock portion 20 in locked position, that is, the projection 22 acts as a hook to hold the pin 3 in the slot and thereby prevents the accidental disengaging of the parts and loss of the pin during its use.

The catch shown in Figs. VII and VIII is similar to that of Fig. I except that one side 8 has been cupped up to form a guard over the pin point 5 of the pin 3. An entrant slot 18 has been provided in the guard 8 to allow the pin to be entered and removed. In this modification the keeper member 12 has the track bearing 23 on one side only, as shown in Fig. VIII.

Fig. IX shows the pin 3 resiliently deflected away from the entrant slot of the catch. The pin ed as shown, with an initial set clear of the catch, it will spring out of the catch slot automatically when the handle of the member 12.is moved tothe osition shown in Fig. II, which is the open position.

shown the entrant slot 9 as being substantially vertical, and the entrant slot 18 as being .in the side of the housing and substantially.horizontal,

the said slots may be formed at any desired position. It is also apparent that either of the above structures may be provided with the guard end 8, ifdesired. The track portions 10 may be formed on both sides of the keeper member 12 or on only the invention.

It is apparent that although applicant has Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a housing positioned in the path of the member to be locked, said housing having slots adapted to admit the bar to its aligned position and a peripheral slot, a diaphragm plate in said housing adapted to rotate therein and having a central opening for the member to be locked and a handle portion projecting through the peripheral slot of the housing, and a cam edge opening extending from the center opening of the diaphragm plate to the edge thereof havin a portion providing an entrant opening for the member to be locked and a cam shoulder portion, said portions arranged so that the member to be locked entering the slots of the housing will engage the cam shoulder to rotate the diaphragm plate to locate the entrant portion ofthe cam slot out of line with the slot in the housing, thereby locking the member to be locked in said slots.

2. In a deviceof the character described, a support having a slot to admit the ba'r to belocked and having guide means associated therewith, a lock plate rotatably connected with said guide means and having a slot to admit said jbar. means and aligned with the first slouand cam means associated with said plate'whereby contact of the bar member in entering the aligned slots with said cam means will rotate said plate to close the opening of the slot inthe plate byfia solidl'portion of the support to lock said bar in place in said slots.

3. "In a device of the character describe'd, a'support having a slotted portion to admit the barto be locked and having an unslotted part and guide means associated therewith, a lock plate rotatably connected with said guide means and hav-.' ing a slotted portion to admit the said bar means and aligned with the first slot and having'aportion of the edge of'the slot shaped to a-oam" shoulder whereby contact of the bar member on entering the aligned slots will'engage said cam shoulder and rotate said plate to bring the open-5' ing of its slotted portion behind an unslotted por l tion of the support to lock said bar in said slots.

4. In a device of the character described, 'a supa slotted portion to admit the said bar means and aligned with the first slot and having a portion ofthe edge of the slot shaped to a cam shoulder.

whereby contact of the bar member on entering;v

the aligned slots will engage said cam shoulder and rotate said plate to bring the opening of its slotted portion behind an unslotted portion of the support to lock said bar in said slots, and aguard portion associated with .the support covering an 3 end of said barmeans. I

. 5. In a device of the character described-a support having a slotted portion to admit the bar; to be locked and having an unslotted part and guide means associated therewith, a lock plate. rotatably mounted in said guide meansandhavw ing a slotted portion to admit the saiidvbar means and aligned with the first slot and having a portion of the edge of the slot shaped to a cam shoulder whereby contact of the bar member on entering the aligned slots will engage said cam shoulder and rotate said plate'to'bringthe opention of the support to locks-aid barin said slots,

said plate having a handle portion extending'be yond the support by which said plate may be rotated in its guide means, I

ing of its slotted portion'behind anunslotted por- 6. In a device of the character described, "a support having a slotted portion to admit the bar to be locked and having an unslotted part and guide means associated therewith, a lock plate rotatably mounted in said guide means and having a slotted portion to admit the said bar means" andaligned with the first slot'and having a portion of the edge of the slot shaped to a cam shoulder whereby contact of the bar member on entering the aligned slots will engage saidcam shoulder and rotate said plate to bring the opening of its slotted portion behind an unslotted portion of the support to lock said bar in said slots, and a guard portion associated with the support covering an end ofsaid bar means, said guard portion having a slot to admit the bar member.

'7; In a device of the character described, a pin having a hinge portion and a pointed pin member, a support adjacent the point of the pin and having a slotted portion to admit the pin, said pin member being springy and having an initial set to cause it to spring clear of the support when unheld therein, said support having guide means associated therewith, a plate rotatably mounted'in said-guide means and having a slotted portion aligned with the slot in the support and adapted to admit the pin member, a portion of the edge of said slotted portion having a cam shoulder whereby the plate will be rotated bycontact with the pinvas it enters the aligned slots to position the end of the slot in the plate behind a solid portion of the support to lock the pin in the slots, .said plate having a handle portionprojecting' beyond the support whereby the plate may be rotated to again align the two slots, whereby the initial set of the spring member will cause it to spring out of said slots to free the pin.

8. In a device of the character described for use in connection with a bar member, a support 1; having a slot to admit the bar and guide means "support, the edge of said slot having a cam shoulder whereby when the bar enters the slot and engages said shoulder, the plate will be rotated to bring the open end of the slot behind a solid portion of the support to lock the bar in the slots and also having a, cam portion shaped so that when the plate is further rotated by the handle, the bar will be centered in the slots and locked therein.

9. In a device of the character described for use in connection with a bar member, a support having separated ear members, each ear having a radial slot to admit the bar, one of said ears having a guide portion and a peripheral slot, a plate rotatably mounted in said guide portion .between the ears and having a handle portion extending through said peripheral slot and having a radial slotted portion aligned with the slots in the ears and adapted to receive the bar, the edge of said slot having a cam shoulder whereby engagement with the bar as it enters the slots will rotate the plate and bring the open end of the slot therein behind a solid portion of the support to lock the bar in the slots, and said edge having another cam portion whereby engagement with the bar as the plate is rotated further by having a radial slot to admit the bar, a guide portion, and a peripheral'slot, a plate rotatably mounted in said guide portion and having a handle portion extending through said peripheral slot and having a radial slotted portion aligned with the slot in the support and adapted to receive the bar, the edge of said slot having a cam shoulder whereby engagement with the bar as: it enters the slots will rotate the plate to bring the open end of the slot therein behind a solid portion of the support to lock the bar in the slots, and said edge having another cam portion whereby engagement with the bar as the plate is further rotated by the handle, will center the bar" in said slots and securely hold it in said posi-e tion.

11. In a device of the character described for use in connection with a bar member, a support having a radial slot to admit the bar, a guide portion and aperipheral slot, a plate rotatably mounted in said guide portion and having a handle portion extending through said peripheral slot and having a, radial slotted portion aligned with the slot in the support and adapted to receive the bar, the edge of said slot having a cam shoulder whereby engagement with the bar as it enters the slots will rotate the plate to bring the open end of the slot therein behind a solid portion of the support to lock the bar in thev slots, and said edge having another cam portion whereby engagement with the bar as the plate is further rotated by the'handle, will center the .bar in said slots and securely hold it in said position, and a domed portion supported by the support and extending over an end of the bar.

12. In a device of the character described for use in connection with a bar member, a support having a radial. slot to admit thebar, a guide portion, and a peripheral slot, a plate rotatably mounted in said guide portion and having a handle portion extending through said peripheral slot and having a radial slotted portion aligned I with the slot in the support and adapted to receive the bar, the edge of said slot having a cam shoulder whereby engagement with the bar as it enters the slots will rotate the plate to bring the open end of the slot therein behind a solid portion of the support to lock the bar in the slots, and said edge having another cam portion whereby engagement with the bar as the plate is further rotated by the handle, will center the bar in said slots and securely hold it in said position, and a domed portion supported by the support and extending over an end of the bar, said domed portion having a slot to admit the bar.

13. In a device of the character described, a resilient springy pin member secured at one end, and free at the other, a support adjacent the free end, said support having a radial slot toadmit the pin, guide means and a peripheral slot, said pin having an initial set to urge it free of the slot of the support, a plate rotatably mounted in the guide means and having a portion extending through said peripheral slot and having a radial slot aligned with the slot in the support adapted to admit the pin, and having a portion of the edge of said slot shaped to a cam shoulder whereby engagement vvith the pin as it enters the slot will rotate the plate to bring the open end of the slot behind a solid portion of the support to lock the pin in the slots, and having another portion of its edge shaped to a cam whereby engagement with thepin as it is further rotated by the handle, will center the pin in the slots and hold it securely in said position, and whereby rotation of the plate by the handle in the opposite direction will align the slots inthe support and plate and the initial set of the pin will cause it; to spring clear of the slots.

14. In a device of the character described, a resilient springly pin member secured at one end, and free at the other, a support adjacent the free end, said support having a radial slot to admit the pin, guide means, and a peripheral, slot, said pin having'an initial set to urge it free of the slot of the support, a plate ro-tatably mounted in the guide means and having a portion extending through said peripheral slot and having a radial slot aligned with the slot in the support adapted to admit the pin, and having a portion of the edge of said slot shaped to acam shoulder whereby engagement with the pin as it enters the slot will rotate the plate to bring the open end of the slot behind a solid portion of the support to lock the pin in the slots, and

having another portion of its edge shaped to a camv whereby engagement with the pin as it is further rotated by the handle will center the pin in the slots and hold it securely in said position, and whereby rotation of the plate by the handle in the opposite direction will align the slots in the support and plate and the initial set of the pin will cause it to spring clear of the slots, and a domed portion supported by' the support and extending over the free end of the pin.

15. In a device of thecharacter described, a resilient springy pin member secured at one end and free at the other, a support adjacent the free end, said support having a radial slot to admit the pin, guide means, and a peripheral slot, said pin having an initial set'to urge it free of the slot of the support, a plate rotatably mountcam whereby engagement with the pin as itfis further rotated by the handle, will center the, pin in the slots and hold it securely: in said position, and whereby rotation of the plateby the handle in the opposite direction will align the slots in the support and plate and the initial set of the pin will cause it to spring clear of the slots,

and a domed portion supportedby the support;

and extending over the free end of the pin, and a slot in said domed portion adapted to admit the pin.

16. In .a device of the character described, a; support member, a member movably connected with the support member, one of saidmembers having entrant means to admit the bar to be locked and the other having lock'means ,aligm able with the entrant means to admit said bar and cam means associated with one of said members whereby contact of the bar member in entering the entrant means with said cam means will move one of said members relative to the other and cause a solid portion of one of said members to close the entrant means in the other of said members to lock the bar in place in said members.

RAYMOND L.I WELLS. 

